go, go
Skiing for visually impaired athletes is not a lot different
to normal skiing.
The only difference is that we have a guide
In my case that's Miguel.
The piste used is naturally matched to the level of
impairment
The jumps are limited because
It's really hard for visually impaired athletes to do the jumps, if they don't see. The speed is not as fast
as the able-bodied because the track is a little bit more
easier but that would be maybe the main difference between the able-bodied and
disabled skiers.
In our sport we go to different places where the snow is different the terrain's
different so that's what makes our sport difficult. In visually impaired
there's B1 who are completely blind
There's a B2 that is semi-impaired
and B3 only has a little impairment.
It's very important for the guide to stay in
contact with the athlete
if they lose touch the athlete loses confidence.
We therefore have a wireless connection via bluetooth
That let's us stay in permanent communication during the descent
I get his instructions over the radio about what I have to know for example
the gate sequence or changing terrain
fast and slow turns.
I try as hard as I can to follow my guide's commands
She gives me all the information I need.
What I discuss with him relates only to the gap between us and what he says to
me relates
only to the line of descent. And I really talk a lot.
He has to trust me 100 per cent because he has to be able to rely on
everything I tell him or it won't work.
The gap between athlete and guide is
stipulated in the rules.
During the descent we must be more than one gate apart otherwise you get
disqualified
In the slalom disciplines it's not more than two gates and if the athlete has
a fall
the guide is not allowed to help them.
If you can imagine going down a slope blindfolded
It's hard enough skiing when you're able-bodied but if you're doing it either blindfolded
So we try to do as much training as possible
Exactly an important competition like Sochi
increases everything more people higher-profile you have to be even more
focused.
You have to mentally prepare for all of that otherwise it's such a big event it
can be simply
overwhelming.